WHITBY — Assault charges against a 57-year-old Whitby man related to what police initially said was a hate incident have been dropped.

Durham police say they believe the complainant’s story was embellished and the Crown has now dropped the assault charges.

“We’re not getting into too much of the details, the story — after doing further investigation — revealed inconsistencies and also he admits to exaggerating the story,” said Const. George Tudos.

Police initially reported that a 22-year-old Muslim man was approached in the washroom at Heydenshore Park on Brock Street in Whitby on Aug. 12. At the time, police said hate-related threats were directed at the man and he was punched in the face.

Officers announced the arrest of a 57-year-old Whitby man on Aug. 18.

Tudos declined to provide specifics on which aspects of the complainant’s story were exaggerated.

He said police will not be charging the 22-year-old man.

“We could have charged him with obstructing police or mischief and he was cautioned for those two offences,” said Tudos.